Tougher schedule will be challenge

Sleeping bags and coolers have become as much a part of the necessary equipment for Gothenburg wrestlers as head-gear and singlets.

The Swedes have traditionally covered many miles through the wrestling season but this year coach Eric Manstedt and his crew will travel to three overnight meets in addition to long trips to Geneva, Hastings and Valentine.

“We do travel a lot but the kids get used to it,” Manstedt said. “They know the routine: Grab your sleeping bag, pack your cooler, get on the bus and let’s go.”

With only two varsity meets at home, the Swedes will see plenty of road time.

That’s not such a bad thing, Manstedt said. With a more diversified schedule that has evolved over the past few seasons, the Swedes now face opponents from a variety of schools.

“We’ll see teams from Alliance to Fort Calhoun, and everywhere in between” Man-stedt said.

They also meet plenty of stiff competition and have ample match opportunities. “The more mat time you get, the more you learn and the better wrestler you are apt to become,” he said.

The Swedes start off the year with three back-to-back varsity meets this weekend.

“We have an extremely tough schedule,” Manstedt said. “I think that is going to be one of the strengths of this team.”

Gothenburg opens with a dual tournament at Sargent on Thursday before hosting Sidney in a head-to-head dual on Friday beginning at 6 p.m.

Then Saturday takes the Swedes to the Cozad Invite, a meet Gothenburg has not attended in several years.

“We had been going to Broken Bow on the opening weekend,” Manstedt said. “Cozad shows us more big schools and might be a little tougher competition.”

Gothenburg has also added the Flatwater Fracas at Grand Island Dec. 18-19 and the Fillmore Central Invite at Geneva on Dec. 30.

“We could potentially get 20-plus matches before the holiday break,” Manstedt said.

With six strong wrestlers who graduated last year, the Swedes will have a new set of boys in leadership roles. Those will include four returning state qualifiers and eight returning letter winners.

“We’re going to have a good mix of experience and inexperience,” Manstedt said.

Tommy France, Chris Hyde, Tanner Schwanz and Mitch Spiegel know what it’s like to wrestle at the state meet. Manstedt said bringing back that many qualifiers helps display a consistency of expectations throughout the team.

“The more kids who understand what it takes to get to state, the more people there are who can spread those expectations to others,” he said.

In addition, Manstedt said there are several wrestlers who have competed at the junior varsity level who are anxious to step into varsity roles.

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